Device for making a spiral incision on a meat product

Abstract

A method and device for forming a spiral incision on a meat product that includes a compression plate, a cutting element, a plurality of rollers, and a spacing device. The compression plate is supported by legs and includes an elongated slot therein. The cutting element is positioned in a vertical orientation and has a cutting portion that projects upwardly through the elongated slot. The plurality of rollers are pivotably coupled to guide brackets and are frictionally engaged by a one or more flexible belts such that one roller is rotated concomitantly with another roller. The spacing device adjustably couples the guide brackets and compression plate such that the flexible belts and compression plate are arranged in substantially parallel-spaced relation. In operation, the flexible belts rotatably engage the meat product and draw the it over the cutting element forming a superficial spiral incision of generally uniform depth.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not applicable.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]In the field of meat cutlery, cutting tools have been adapted to process a variety of meat products. For example, meat processors often employ cutting tools to slicing cylindrical-shaped meat products (e.g., hotdog). Additionally, more advanced cutting tools allow for controlled slicing in order to achieve a superficial incision about the surface of the meat product. Utilizing a cutting tool to incise a superficial incision will partially expose the interior of the meat product, and may enhance both functional and aesthetic properties of the meat product.[0004]One practical consideration associated with these incisions into the meat product is that heat can penetrate the interior more deeply and more quickly. This, in turn, facilitates thoroughly cooking a hotdog and extensively killing bacteria therein. More...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The cutting element is positioned in a substantially vertical orientation, and includes a mounting portion and a cutting portion, wherein the cutting portion projects upwardly through the elongated slot. Typically, the cutting element is an elongate blade that is adapted to making a spiral incision on more than one meat products concomitantly. The distance of upward projection beyond the upper surface of the compression plate is substantially uniform along the length of the cutting element such that a generally uniform depth of the spiral incision is formed upon drawing the meat product over the cutting element

[0011]The plurality of rollers that are pivotably coupled to at least one guide bracket. Additionally, the plurality of rollers are frictionally engaged by one or more flexible belts such that at least one roller is rotated concomitantly with another roller. Typically, the cutting element is angularly disposed in relation to at least one guide bracket.

[0012]The spacing device adjustably couples at least one guide bracket and the compression plate such that the one or more flexible belts and the compression plate are spatially arranged to rotatably engage a meat product therebetween. In an exemplary embodiment, the flexible belts and compression plate are arranged in substantially parallel-spaced relation. The spacing device also includes a pivot bar that is pivotably coupled to the guide brackets such that the flexible belts may be angularly disposed in relation to the compression plate.

Problems solved by technology

These manual cutting tools are unable to consistently achieve a precise superficial incision at a uniform depth and pitch along the length of the incision into the meat product.

In addition, the present methods of utilizing the manual cutting tools are complex—such that operation of these tools is so labor-intensive as to preclude high volume production.

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